President Thabo Mbeki should ”adapt and update his approach” to negotiations over the future of Zimbabwe, British Foreign Secretary David Milliband told the Mail & Guardian.
”Mbeki’s mediation secured relatively peaceful elections at the end of March, but the situation has changed now” he said in an exclusive interview.
Milliband argues that a second mediator might strengthen Mbeki’s hand in the effort to move the situation forward.
”The Zimbabwean crisis is a crisis not just for that country but also for the whole of Southern Africa. The scale of butchering is unspeakable. This is a real-time crisis [because people can get immediate updates through cellphones],” he added.
Milliband was speaking during a visit to South Africa to attend the sixth session of the United Kingdom-South Africa bilateral forum, where, according to those close to the process, he ”did his best” to get Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to back a draft resolution that the United States is planning to table at the United Nations this week. But Dlamini Zuma dug her heels in and eventually the two had to agree to disagree.
Diplomats close to the process say they believe South Africa may abstain from a vote on whether to slap travel bans and smart sanctions on the ruling Zimbabwean elite.
The resolution will also ask for an arms embargo on Zimbabwe.
”It is vital that the Security Council passes a resolution that recommends sanctions for the individuals at the heart of the Zimbabwean crisis. We are focused on building consensus at the UN about declaring the regime illegitimate. What we know is [self- styled Zimbabwean president Robert] Mugabe has never been weaker, his military supporters are isolated. The country is in political limbo. This is a man-made crisis in what should have been a rich country,” Milliband said.
The South African argument is that the mediation should be given time and space to continue and it is believed that the US proposal will not help this cause. The British position is that targeted sanctions will help put pressure on the regime if the ruling elite is isolated from their investments outside Zimbabwe and not allowed to travel anywhere.
Spokesperson for the department of foreign affairs Ronnie Mamoepa on Wednesday said the question of how South Africa would react is still under discussion.
Diplomats speculate that South Africa would not want to be seen to be caving in to international pressure and supporting such a resolution. It, however, cannot cast a vote that would be seen as favouring the Mugabe regime, especially in the face of the strong statements by several African leaders.
The African Union resolved that for talks to take place between Zanu-PF and MDC about the formation of a government of national unity it is critical to reinforce the AU resolution to help the people of Zimbabwe.
Unsurprisingly Milliband dismisses Mugabe’s claims of British responsibility for Zimbabwe’s crisis. ”It is rubbish. There is no legitimacy to Mugabe’s claims. He’s been in charge of the country for 28 years. How can we still be held responsible? This is about two different visions for the future of Zimbabwe — one backed by a ruthless clique at the top of this corrupt dictatorship and on the other hand the great mass of the Zimbabwean people who voted for change on March 29.”